Clamping and cutting means for circular knitting machines



R. J- MOODY Dec. 4, 1962 CLAMPING AND CUTTING MEANS FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Sept. 27, 1960' 4 Sheets-Sheet l JNVENTOR. ROBERT J. MOCDY Dec. 4, 1962 R. J. MOODY 3,066,512

CLAMPING AND CUTTING MEANS FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Sept. 27, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 28 FIG. 2.

INVENTOR. ROBERT J. MOODY ATTORNEYS R. J. MOODY Dec. 4, 1962 CLAMPING AND CUTTING MEANS FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Sept. 27, 1960' 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. RQBERT J. MOODY pY ATTORNEY Dec. 4, 1962 R. J. MOODY 3,066,512

CLAMPING AND CUTTING MEANS FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Sept. 27, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 [MI IIW Hull] 11! U A: i "13 P' FIG. 5.

liwu AIIQR NEYS Patented Dec. 4, 1962 @ftice 3,066,512 CLAMPING AND CUTTING MEANS FOR CIRCULAR KNHTTENG MACHENES Robert J. Moody, Franklin, NH, assignor to Scott dz Williams, Incorporated, a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Sept. 27, 1960, Ser. No. 523,722 12 Claims. (Cl. 66-445) This invention relates to clamping and cutting means for circular knitting machines and particularly to the cutting of yarn ends close to the interior of a fabric.

In the production of seamless hosiery, particularly in fine gauges knit of nylon or similar synthetic yarn, there is a tendency for the free ends of yarn resulting from yarn changes to be caught by the needles either to form heavy stitches which sometimes cause cuts in the fabric or long loops of yarn which may he accidentally pulled and result in badly distorted partial courses. Due to the transparent nature of the fine gauge fabric, the long yarn change ends, even if not improperly caught by the needles, may be seen when the stocking is worn and present an unsightly appearance. In view of the foregoing, it has been usual practice after the stocking is knit to turn it inside out on a form and manually remove the ends by shearing or clipping. However, this gets rid of the unsightly appearance of long yarn ends but does not prevent the knitting-in of ends which may have occurred in the formation of the fabric. It is, accordingly, desirable to cut the yarns close to the fabric at the time yarn changes are made and while the stocking is being knit. The separate operation of cutting the loose ends may thus be avoided.

In the application of Frank R. Page, Serial No. 762,000, filed September 19, 1958, now U.S. Patent No. 3,019,628, there is disclosed a clamping and cutting means and means for removing cut yarn ends to effect the results just described. In accordance with said application, use is made of the fact that in commercial machines for knitting fine gauge seamless hosiery devices are provided for the formation of turned welts. By relatively slight modifications of devices commonly present in such machines the desired ends may be secured, utilizing dial fins as cutting elements.

The general form of clamping and cutting means disclosed in said Page application is also involved in the application of Alexander Belford, Serial No. 798,921, filed March 12, 1959, the last mentioned application disclosing the clamping and cutting means as applied to a. two-feed machine. The machines of both of said applications embody the matters forming the subject of Scott Patent 1,282,958 dated October 29, 1918, and in view of said Scott patent reference to details of the machine need not be made. Furthermore, the machine disclosed herein, involving multifeed knitting, carries out its major operations in accordance with the disclosure of McDonough Patent 2,576,962, dated December 4, 1951, and consequently it is unnecessary to detail the particular elements and operations involved especially because of two-feed knitting. Accordingly, only such modifications of the Scott and NicDonough machines are disclosed herein as are directly involved in the present invention.

In accordance with the disclosure of said Belford application, separate clamping means are provided for the yarns fed at the respective feeds in order to secure proper control thereof. Despite this, yarn cutting was provided at a single point. In accordance with the present invention improved operation is secured by providing different points for the cutting of the yarns during insertion and removal, and, as will appear clearer hereafter, three cutting points are provided for the improved handling of the yarns fed at the two feeds.

Heretofore it was considered desirable to effect tensionin of the yarns by means of an air system involving either suction or the action of a blast of air impinging on the yarn ends to blow them into a discharging channel. A second function of the air-operated means just mentioned was that of removal of yarn ends. In accordance with the present invention improved operation is secured by getting rid of the action of air for effecting tensioning. In accordance with the present invention the complexities of timing are eliminated, the yarn handling at the time of cutting being entirely mechanical. Suction is provided solely for the removal of yarn ends'by a vacuum cleaning operation which takes place entirely independently of the yarn changes and desirably during phases of operation involving no interference or relationship with the actual yarn changes. Considerable saving of air is involved in that each yarn end removing operation may remove simultaneously several previously cut ends, as contrasted with the individual removal of each cut end in accordance with prior practice.

The foregoing indicates the general objects of the invention, and these as well as more detailed objects will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation, partially in section, show ing those elements of a two-feed knitting machine which are particularly concerned with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view showing the top of the dial and its associated parts and particularly illustrating the operations involved in removal of main and auxiliary yarns from operation;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 but illus trating particularly the operations involved in the introductions of the yarns;

FIGURE 4 is an elevation of the dial and cap assembly as viewed from the front of the machine; and

FIGURE 5 is a similar elevation but showing the parts as viewed from the left of the machine.

The machine comprises the usual rotary slotted cylinder 2 mounting the independent latch needles 4 with which there cooperate the sinkers 6 carried by the dial- 8 and conventionally operated by cams in the cap 10. The latch ring 12 is provided with the main feed throat plate 14 with which are associated a plurality of yarn feeding fingers such as 16 and 18 providing for yarn changes, the yarns being fed from the fingers to the needles over the edge 20 of the throat plate. For the production of turned welts there is provided the usual dial 22 surmounted by the dial cap 24 which carries stationary cams of usual type (not shown) acting upon thev transfer elements (not illustrated) which are guided in slots in the dial and, at the periphery thereof, between fins 28. These fins 28 in the present instance serve the additional purpose of cutting the yarn ends, and for this purpose the dial cap 24 carries at its underside the ring 23 hearing against the fins 28, the fins cooperating with the edges of notches as hereafter more fully described. The dial 22 is rotated in synchronism with the needle cylinder by conventional connections indicated at 21.

As will be evident from the Scott patent, the elements so for described (except for the special cutting edges in the ring 23) are conventional. In the past clamping and cutting means have been carried by the dial cap but have usually been of such type that relatively long yarn ends result.

In the disclosed machine an auxiliary feed point is provided by a throat plate 25 with which are associated the auxiliary yarn feeding fingers 27 and 29 which may be selectively rendered active and inactive to effect yarn changes. It will be understood that the usual camming for the needles and sinkers is provided to effect two-feed knitting, including, if desired two-feed knitting of heels and toes. Two-feed knitting is conventional and will be readily understood by reference to the McDonough patent referred to above. Since the invention is not primarily concerned with the operations of the needles and sinkers, the camming is not herein illustrated but may take any of the forms known in the art.

Removal of yarn ends is effected by a suction arrangement operated by flow of air from a pressure source through a tube 34 and a bore 35 communicating therewith and located in a member 37. Communicating with the bore 35 are pickup tubes 36 and 38 meeting the bore 35 at angles as illustrated to provide an ejector action at the lower ends of the tubes 36 and 38 which are slightly spaced from the top of the dial cap as indicated in FIGURE 1 at the locations particularly indicated in FIGURES 2 and 3. By reason of the air flow strong suction is provided and yarn ends are drawn through the tubes 36 and 38 as will become apparent hereafter, being delivered into a basket element shown at as provided with an exit screen to catch the yarn ends but permit free flow of air.

The ring 23 which forms part of the dial cap is provided with three notches which may be best defined by their cutting edges 42, 44 and 46 at their counterclockwise sides. These edges provide a shearing action by cooperation with the fins 28. As will be evident particularly from FIGURES 2 and 3 the peripheral edge 47 of the ring 23 extends slightly outwardly beyond the ends of the fins 28 except at the notches. in order to provide proper handling of the yarns, various clamping and guiding elements are provided. A guard 48 taking the form of a thin sheet of spring metal has an upturned end 50 (see FIGURE 5) and a downwardly extending lip portion 52 which extends radially beyond the periphery 47 of ring 23 above the locations of the notch providing the cutting edge 42. The guard is secured to the top of the dial cap by a screw 54 and normally has slight clearance with the upper surface of the dial cap. Located above the guard 43 is a clamp member 56 of thin spring metal which is also secured by the screw 54 to the dial cap. The clamp member 56 has an upturned end 58 which, as shown in FIGURE 5, is spaced above the end of the guard 48. The clamp member 56 when relieved of pressure springs upwardly slightly away from the guard 48 to provide a space for the free movement of yarns. A second guard member is provided at 60 and has an upwardly direct free end 62 as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. It also is provided with a shield portion 64 extending downwardly and outwardly beyond the periphery 47 of the ring 23 above the location of the second notch having the cutting edge 44 The guard 60 also has an upwardly extending lip 66. The I guard member is clamped to the dial cap by a screw 68. Associated with the guard 60 is a clamp member formed of a thin sheet of spring metal and provided with an upturned end 72, being secured to the dial cap by a screw 74. The normal condition of the clamp member 72 is one of slight clearance with the upper surface of the guard 60 to provide substantially free movement of yarns therebetween. The guard 64) normally springs slightly upwardly away from the top of the dial cap.

For the control of the various elements last described provision is made as follows:

A lever 76 is pivoted at 78 to a stationary portion of the dial cap assembly and is normally spring urged counterclockwise as viewed in FIGURE 4 and is arranged to be moved clockwise through connections to a link 80 from the main cam drum of the machine, these connections being of conventional type and, therefore, not illustrated. At its left-hand end, as viewed in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, the lever 76 carries a clamp assembly including a leather pressure element $2 adapted to bear against the upper surface of the clamp member 70 and provide a force clamping the member 70 against the guard 60 and this, in turn, against the upper surface of the dial cap. An auxiliary clamping member capable of exerting a light pressure solely by reason of its weight is provided at 34 and has a vertical slot 86 which loosely embraces the shank of a screw 88 carried by the left-hand end of lever 76 functioning to clamp the leather element 82. The clamp member 84 has a bevelled lower edge portion at 90 clearing the dial cap to guide yarns beneath the clamp member. As will be evident from the construction described, the lower edge of the clamp member 84 normally rests on the top surface of the dial cap beyond, in the direction of the counterclockwise rotation of the needles, the location of the guard 60 and clamp member 70.

Pivoted at 92 to a bracket 94 carried by a stationary part of the dial cap is a lever 96 which, at its free end, mounts an assembly including a leather pressure element 98 adapted to engage and press downwardly the clamp member 56 against the guard 48 and this guard, in turn, against the upper surface of the dial cap. The clamping screw of this assembly is indicated at 100 and forms a pivot for the mounting of an auxiliary clamp member 102 similar to 84 and provided with a vertical elongated slot 104 loosely embracing the shank of the screw 100. This auxiliary clamp member 102 is provided with a bevelled entrance portion 106 to facilitate the entry of yarns. Like the clamp member 84 it bears, of its own weight, against the upper surface of the dial cap, and does so at a position counterclockwise beyond the clamp member 56 and guard 48. The lever 96 is provided with a laterally extending ear engaged by the upper end of a tension spring 108, the lower end of which is anchored to the dial cap. The lever 96 carries a follower element 110 pivoted to it at 112 and arranged to be clamped in adjusted position by a screw 114 threaded to lever 96 and passing through a slot 116 permitting adjustment. The follower 110 overlies the lefthand portion of lever 76 and when the lever is rocked by downward movement of the link 80 the lever 96 is lifted against the action of spring 108. Spring 108 is a strong one and through the connections described exerts sufficient pull to effect downward clamping of the clamp members 56 and 70 and their associated guards.

A pin 113 extends upwardly from the top of the dial cap and serves for yarn guidance as described hereafter.

The operations involved in the making of yarn changes, yarn end clipping and removal of yarn ends may now be described with particular reference to FiGURES 2 and 3. It will be understood that in making these yarn changes conventional sequential procedures will be used to secure proper overlaps and, where necessary, to provide eyelet closures. Since these particular procedures form no part of the inventive matter here involved they need not be described and interest will be centered solely on the fact that during a yarn removal a yarn finger will be raised and the yarn therefrom will run to a particular needle, missing later needles, while in yarn insertion the yarn will be missed by needles preceding a certain needle following which it will be engaged with some or all of subsequent needles. In both operations, and at both feeds, the result will be the presentation of yarn ends which should be clipped and will be clipped by the action of the present mechanism. It will also be noted that in actual procedure the insertion of a new yarn and the removal of a previously knitting yarn will be in close sequence. For simplicity of understanding of what occurs these two events will be considered separately, the operations when the two events occur in close sequence being basically the same.

Referring first to FIGURE 2, the removal of yarns may be first considered. FIGURE 2 shows removal of yarns at both feeds, but it will be understood that the yarn removals involved may be at either one feed or the other or at both feeds in close sequence.

Referring first to the .main feed, M is the yarn which may be considered as going out of action. When the yarn finger 16 rises the yarn will run from the upper position of the yarn finger to the last needle which engaged it. As the needles rotate in a counterclockwise direction, the yarn, by reason of its sloping position, will pass above the guard end 50 and will be deflected outwardly by the skirt portion 52 of the guard so as to pass the notch at cutting edge 42, running thereafter over the edge 47 of the ring 23. At the same time it will pass beneath the upturned end of clamp 58. At this time the main cam drum of the machine through the rod 80 and other connections will slightly depress the right-hand end of lever 76 to raise the pressure pads 98 and 82 so as to release the clamp 56 and also the clamp 70. As rotation proceeds the yarn :M will be drawn well beneath the clamp 56 and as the needle which holds it passes the upturned end of guard 62 the yarn will pass below this guard and will be drawn into the notch in advance of the cutting edge 44. Snapping between a pair of fins, it will then be cut off by the cooperation of one of the fins with the cutting edge 44. The final position of the yarn at the time of severance, which position is maintained thereafter, is clearly indicated in FIGURE 2, and it will benoted that the yarn passes across and below the open end of the tube 36. At the time the clamp 56 is raised, the movement imparted to the levers 76 and 96 is insufiicient to lift the floating clamps 102 and 84 off the top of the dial cap. The main yarn enters below the upturned end of the clamp 102 which exerts a light retaining pressure thereon. Until the yarn M is again introduced it remains in the position indicated, being securely clamped after the lever 76 is released by the rod 80 under the action of the main cam drum.

Considering now the removal of an auxiliary yarn A, as t-he finger 27 rises this yarn also passes in a slopping direction to the last needle by which it is held'and by reason of the slope it is drawn above the guard 62 but beneath the end 72 of the clamp 70 which is opened at this time by the slight lifting of the presence element 82 carried by the lever 76. As already indicated the release of the clamp 70 is effected by a slight rise of the left-hand end of lever 76 which leaves the clamp 84 in engagement with the upper surface of the dial cap under the action of its own weight. As the last needle carrying yarn A moves further the guard 60 prevents the yarn from dropping into the notch at cutting edge 44: so that the yarn continues to ride around the edge 47 of ring 23. The yarn A is'eventually deflected by the left hand corner of the upturned end 66 of the guard 60 and thence extends beneath the inner portion of the clamp 70 and beneath the clamp 84, entering under the bevelled edge 90-.thereof. Finally, it is deflected about pm 118 and is snapped into the notch having the cutting edge 46 between fins of the dial, being cut by one of them in association with the edge 46. It will be noted that when cutting takes place it is located across and below the open end. of the tube 38.

Considering now the restoration of yarns, referring to FIGURE 3 a yarn M at the main feed is put into action by.the dropping of its yarn finger, such as 16. It will be noted that in FIGURE 3 the yarn M is shown in chain lines in the position it occupies when the yarn finger moves downwardly, which position is that attained as described in connection with FIGURE 2. The yarn may be dropped between needles or may at this time be first seized by a needle which is specially raised. In any event, it will now be drawn through the lowered finger at a low level over the edge 25 of the throat plate. The portion between the finger and the clamp 56, which clamp is now tightly holding the yarn by reason of release of the. rodfitl, will be carried below guard 50 with the result that, sliding along the edge 47, it will drop into the notch at cutting edge 42 and between fins with resulting shearing by one of them in cooperation with the cutting edge. Following the shearing there will be a loose end which will lie in the position evident in FIGURE 3, the loose end being clamped by 56 and 102 and extending past and beneath the open end of tube 36 and then beneath the guard 62 which clamps it against the upper surface of the dial cap.

In the case of the inserted yarn A at. the auxiliary feed, the lowering of the finger 27 produces a quite similar action. The chain line indicates the initial position of the yarn which is that finally achieved as described in connection with FIGURE 2. As the first needle which engages the yarn advances, the portion between the clamp 70 and the yarn finger is drawn beneath the guard 62 and snaps into the notch preceding the cutting edge 44, moving between the fins so that one of them will effect shearing in connection with the notch edge. The final position of the severed portion of the yarn A is indicated in full lines in FIGURE 3. While it is free from the position of the clamp 84 past the lower end of the tube 38, it will lie below the open end of this tube because of the close proximity of the clamp 84 to the tube.

It will be noted that in accordance with the foregoing, the operations so far described have taken place without the exertion of any suction action on the yarns which retain the various positions described. Heretofore in similar devices suction has been used to impart tension to the yarns during theyarn changing and severing operations. This, however, has been expensive in requiring the excessive use of compressed air, also involving matters of timing increasing the cost of attachments. In accordance with what has been described, the severing actions take place completely independently of the air supply. Furthermore, no use of air for yarn removal is required at each yarn change. It is possible to have numerous yarn changes and shearing actions take place before yarn end removal is required, since, as will be evident from what has been described, numerous yarn ends may accumulate beneath the clamps, all extending beneath the respective tubes 36 and 38. As has been noted above, while the clamps 56 and 70 are released during yarn removals, there isnot involved release of the clamp members 102 and 84 which, by their weight, serve to continue to hold previous yarn ends which have been severed while permitting the entry beneath them of further yarn ends.

Accordingly, the removal of the severed yarn ends may beetfected at any convenient time in the cycle of operation of the machine, and if desired, only once during such a cycle, the use of energizing air through the tube 34 being thus minimized. Furthermore, the air may be introduced to give only a short blast during a part of a cylinder revolution. Considerable economy of operation thus results. Air is, of course, delivered to tube 34 by the opening of a conventional valve actuated from the main cam drum of the machine.

At the time the air supply is produced to provide suction at the lower ends of tubes 36 and 38 all of the clamps are fully released by sufiicient downward movement of the push rod to lift the clamp members 102 and 84. The free severed ends are thus drawn upwardly into the tubes and discharged into the basket 40. p g

It may be noted that when severed yarn ends are thus removed, held inactive yarn ends as illustrated in FIG,- URE 2 may be drawn into the tubes 36 and 38, but this is immaterial, because, even though these yarn endsare temporarily released by the clamps the suctions produced will continue to stretch them in their original paths from the raised yarn fingers. When the suction ceases the clamps are again closed by release of push rod 80 and the inactive yarns are again positively held to extend from the yarn fingers to the clamps as shown in FIGURE 2.

It will be evident that various changes in details of construction and operation may be made Without departing from the invention as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A knitting machine comprising a needle cylinder, needles carried thereby, means for feeding at least one yarn to the needles, means for effecting severing of a yarn, following removal thereof from the needles, closely adjacent to the last needle engaging the same at a first location substantially spaced from said feeding means, and means for efiecting severing of a yarn, following introduction thereof to the needles, closely adjacent to the first needle engaging the same at a second location between said feeding means and the first mentioned severing location.

2. A knitting machine comprising a needle cylinder, needles caried thereby, means for feeding at least one yarn to the needles, means for effecting severing of a yarn, following removal thereof from the needles, closely adjacent to the last needle engaging the same at a first location substantially spaced from said feeding means, means for effecting severing of a yarn, following introduction thereof to the needles, closely adjacent to the first needle engaging the same at a second location between said feeding means and the first mentioned severing location, and means for clamping severed yarn ends between said first and second locations.

3. A knitting machine comprising a needle cylinder, needles carried thereby, means for feeding at least one yarn to the needles, means for effecting severing of a yarn, following removal thereof from the needles, closely adjacent to the last needle engaging the same at a first location substantially spaced from said feeding means, means for effecting severing of a yarn, following introduction thereof to the needles, closely adjacent to the first needle engaging the same at a second location between said feeding means and the first mentioned severing location, means for clamping severed yarn ends between \said first and second locations, means for releasing said clamping means, and means for removing such severed yarn ends.

4. A knitting machine comprising a needle cylinder, needles carried thereby, means for feeding at least one yarn to the needles, means for effecting severing of a yarn, following removal thereof from the needles, closely adjacent to the last needle engaging the same at a first location substantially spaced from said feeding means, means for effecting severing of a yarn, following introduction thereof to the needles, closely adjacent to the first needle engaging the same at a second location between said feeding means and the first mentioned severing location, and means guiding yarn being removed from the needles past the second location to prevent severing thereat.

5. A knitting machine comprising a needle cylinder, needles carried thereby, means for feeding at least one yarn to the needles, means for effecting severing of a yarn, following removal thereof from the needles, closely adjacent to the last needle engaging the same at a first location substantially spaced from said feeding means, means for effecting severing of a yarn, following introduction thereof to the needles, closely adjacent to the first needle engaging the same at a second location between said feeding means and the first mentioned severing location, means for clamping severed yarn ends between said first and second locations, means for releasing said clamping means, and means for lightly holding yarn ends between said first and second locations upon release of said clamping means.

6. A knitting machine comprising a needle cylinder, needles carried thereby, means for feeding at least one yarn to the needles, means for effecting severing of a yarn, following removal thereof from the needles, closely adjacent to the last needle engaging the same at a first location substantially spaced from said feeding means, means for effecting severing of a yarn, following introduction thereof to the needles, closely adjacent to the first needle engaging the same at a second location between said feeding means and the first mentioned severing location, means for clamping severed yarn ends between said first and second locations, means for releasing said clamping means, means for lightly holding yarn ends between said first and second locations upon release of said clamping means, means for releasing both said clamping means and holding means, and means for removing such severed yarn ends.

7. A knitting machine comprising a needle cylinder, needles carried thereby, means for feeding at least one yarn to the needles at each of a pair of first and second spaced feed points to provide multifeed knitting, the first feed point being ahead of the second feed point, means for effecting severing of a yarn, following removal thereof from the needles at the first feed point, closely adjacent to the last needle engaging the same at a first location substantially spaced from the feeding means at the first feed point, means for effecting severing of a yarn, following introduction thereof to the needles at the first feed point, closely adjacent to the first needle engaging the same at a second loctaion between said first feed point and the first mentioned severing location, means for effecting severing of a yarn, following removal thereof from the needles at the second feed point, closely adjacent to the last needle engaging the same at a third location substantially spaced from the second feed point, and means for effecting severing of a yarn, following introduction thereof to the needles at the second feed point, closely adjacent to the first needle engaging the same at a location between the second feed point and said third location.

8. A knitting machine according to claim 7 in which the last mentioned location between the second feed point and said third location is the same as the first mentioned location.

9. A knitting machine comprising a needle cylinder, needles carried thereby, means for feeding at least one yarn to the needles at each of a pair of first and second spaced feed points to provide multifeed knitting, the first feed point being ahead of the second feed point, means for effecting severing of a yarn, following removal thereof from the needles at the first feed point, closely adjacent to the last needle engaging the same at a first location substantially spaced from the feeding means at the first feed point, means for effecting severing of a yarn, following introduction thereof to the needles at the first feed point, closely adjacent to the first needle engaging the same at a second location between said first feed point and the first mentioned severing location, means for effecting severing of a yarn, following removal thereof from the needles at the second feed point, closely adjacent to the last needle engaging the same at a third location substantially spaced from the second feed point, means for effecting severing of a yarn, following introduction thereof to the needles at the second feed point, closely adjacent to the first needle engaging the same at a location between the second feed point and said third location, and means for clamping severed ends of yarns from both feed points.

10. A knitting machine comprising a needle cylinder, needles carried thereby, means for feeding at least one yarn to the needles at each of a pair of first and second spaced feed points to provide multifeed knitting, the first feed point being ahead of the second feed point, means for effecting severing of a yarn, following removal thereof from the needles at the first feed point, closely adjacent to the last needle engaging the same at a first location substantially spaced from the feeding means at the first feed point, means for effecting severing of a yarn, following introduction thereof to the needles at the first feed point, closely adjacent to the first needle negaging the same at a second location between said first feed point and the first mentioned severing location, means for effecting severing of a yarn, following removal thereof from the needles at the second feed point, closely adjacent to the last needle engaging the same at a third location substantially spaced from the second feed point, means for effecting severing of a yarn, following introduction thereof to the needles at the second feed point, closely adjacent to the first needle engaging the same at a location between the second feed point and said third location, means for clamping severed ends of yarns from both feed points, means for releasing the yarns from said clamping means, and means for removing such severed and released yarn ends.

ll. A knitting machine comprising a needle cylinder, needles carried thereby, means for feeding at least one yarn to the needles, means for effecting severing of a yarn, following removal thereof from the needles, closely adjacent to the last needle engaging the same, means for effecting severing of a yarn, following introduction thereof to the needles, closely adjacent to the first needle engaging the same, means for accumulating resulting severed ends of yarn, and means for removing simul taneously from the accumulating means a plurality of such severed ends.

12. A knitting machine comprising a needle cylinder, needles carried thereby, means for feeding at least one yarn to the needles, means for effecting severing of a yarn, following removal thereof from the needles, closely adjacent to the last needle engaging the same, means for effecting severing of a yarn, following introduction thereof to the needles, closely adjacent to the first needle engaging the same, means for accumulating and clamping resulting severed ends of yarn, means for releasing the clamping action of the last mentioned means, and means for removing simultaneously from the accumulating means a plurality of such released severed ends.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,824,436 Stack et a1. Feb. 25, 1958 FOREEGN PATENTS 1,235,030 France May '23, 1960 Disclaimer 3,066,512.R0be1"t J. Moody, Franklin, N.H. CLAMPING AND OUITING MEANS FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES. Patent dated. Dec. 4, 1962. Disclaimer filed Feb. 25, 1963, by the assignee, Scott c6 Williams, Incorpomted.

Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 11 and 12 of said patent.

[Oficz'al Gazette May 21, 1.963.] 

